Renowned philosopher Roger Scruton draws on his own experience as a counter-culture presence in public life to explain conservatism in a sceptical age.

Renowned philosopher Roger Scruton draws on his own experience as a counter-culture presence in public life to explain conservatism in a skeptical age.

With soft left-liberalism as the dominant force in Western politics, what can conservatives now contribute to public debate that will not be dismissed as pure nostalgia? In this highly personal and witty book, renowned philosopher Roger Scruton explains how to live as a conservative in spite of the pressures to exist otherwise. Drawing on his own experience as a counter-cultural presence in public life, Scruton argues that while humanity might survive in the absence of the conservative outlook, it certainly won't flourish. How to be a Conservative is not only a blueprint for modern conservatism. It is a heartfelt appeal on behalf of old fashioned decencies and values, which are the bedrock of our weakened, but still enduring civilization.

Elegantly written and thought-provoking ... I loved this book, especially the way it seems to be aimed as much at the heart as the mind. On both it has a cleansing effect , the equivalent of eating a tart lemon sorbet.